The gas plant (Dictamnus albus), also known as the burning bush, might look like a delicate garden flower—but it hides an explosive secret. On hot summer evenings, this perennial releases a lemon-scented oil vapor so flammable that it can be ignited with a match, producing a brief, ghostly flame.

Amazingly, the plant itself doesn’t burn. The flame flashes above it and disappears in seconds, leaving the flower unharmed. Gardeners have used this trick for centuries, though it requires just the right conditions: warmth, still air, and maturity.

It’s one of the few plants that can create its own fire—without getting scorched.